Thread: How great was Chico Corrales

Just a little tribute to a great warrior. I know it's been done, but hell lets do it again. The man deserves it. Share your thoughts on his accomplishments and wheather or not you consider him a Hall of Famer or maybe even an ATG in his divisions.

Great or not, he sure gave us some great fights, one of which has a case for greatest fight ever.

He has wins over Derrick Gainer, Angel Manfredy, Joel Casamayor (Only the seccond to beat him), Acelino Freitas (First to beat him) and Jose Luis Castillo in a clasic.

Yes some of those wins were close and some of them were later avenged but for those nights that Chico emerged victorious we saw a spark of greatness and a glimps of what we all believe boxing should be. Even in his losses, or maybe especially, Corrales defined what is hart.

He was only dominated twice in his career and that was against an ATG in Mayweather and a young and hungry welterweight contender, a weight class chico should've never fought at, in his last fight.

Thanks Chico, RIP.

He was dominated in his last fight too.
But that was when it was all over.

He's not a Hall of Famer, but his fights with Castillo were Hall of Fame caliber fights.

Originally Posted by Gyrokai

He was dominated in his last fight too.
But that was when it was all over.

He's not a Hall of Famer, but his fights with Castillo were Hall of Fame caliber fights.

The first fight with castillo is the greatest fight of all time IMO

He was an entertaining fighter but not a great fighter.

He fell at the major hurdle more often than not. Despite having so many physical advantages.

Originally Posted by miles

He was an entertaining fighter but not a great fighter.

He fell at the major hurdle more often than not. Despite having so many physical advantages.

his willingness to throw it all on the libne and go toe to toe did it i think.

he could have done a lot of damage just working off the jab IMO

Chico was one of my favorite fighters. As has been said 100's of times before, the first fight with Castillo was one of the best fights boxing has ever seen - certainly the best I've ever seen.
Even in his fight with Clottey, in which he was dominated, you could see flashes of what made Corrales great - he never quit and he always sought to perform the best he could, regardless of circumstances, he kept coming forward, bring the fight to the bigger and stronger Clottey.
One example (out of many) of just how big a heart he had was at the end of the Mayweather fight - most fighters would have resigned themselves to the fact that the fight was going to be stopped, and it should have been - but Corrales was pissed that they would even concieve of throwing the towel in.
One of my favorite fighters of all time, certain to be inducted in to the hall of fame - Multi-weight champion, a 40 - 5 record, and one of the most exciting fighters of our era - if fucking Naz gets in there, Chico should have his own goddamn wing.
RIP Diego "Chico" Corrales

Originally Posted by Gyrokai

He was dominated in his last fight too.
But that was when it was all over.

He's not a Hall of Famer, but his fights with Castillo were Hall of Fame caliber fights.

Completely agree. Corrales' heart, not his skill, is what made him. Plenty of fighters with heart have clenched or will clench a HoF spot (Holyfield) but not Corrales. If that heart had carried him through a few more fights with wins (Mayweather, Clottey) then perhaps, but as his career finally stands, no.

Originally Posted by CFH

Chico was one of my favorite fighters. As has been said 100's of times before, the first fight with Castillo was one of the best fights boxing has ever seen - certainly the best I've ever seen.
Even in his fight with Clottey, in which he was dominated, you could see flashes of what made Corrales great - he never quit and he always sought to perform the best he could, regardless of circumstances, he kept coming forward, bring the fight to the bigger and stronger Clottey.
One example (out of many) of just how big a heart he had was at the end of the Mayweather fight - most fighters would have resigned themselves to the fact that the fight was going to be stopped, and it should have been - but Corrales was pissed that they would even concieve of throwing the towel in.
One of my favorite fighters of all time, certain to be inducted in to the hall of fame - Multi-weight champion, a 40 - 5 record, and one of the most exciting fighters of our era - if F****** Naz gets in there, Chico should have his own goddamn wing.
RIP Diego "Chico" Corrales

So true...

I've seen people in with less credentials.

His three wins in a row against Casamayor, Freitas and Castillo, which were arguably the best 130 and 135 lbers at the time, is certanly HoF worthy stuff. To bad those were also his last three wins...

I loved him, but I still don't think he belongs. And Naz doesn't necessarily belong in there, either. Great athlete but an ego made of glass.

By some of the logic being demonstrated in this thread, Oscar Dela Hoya doesn't deserve to be in the HoF either...

I think he deserves to be in there not so much for his ability but the way boxing fans reminise about him. He was definately entertainng and was never in a dull fight. His first fight against castillo will be remembered for years. Especially that 10th round. Also talent wise he was the first to beat Freitas and the second to beat Casamayor who many consider to be the man at lightweight now. For me he should be in. Afterall it is the hall of fame and not the hall of talent.

Well you could make the same case for him as Castillo. Both were champions and both were involved in some of the best fights of this generation. IMO he may be a little shy of being in the hall only because if you let him in you have to induct a lot of other guys on the same plateu as him over the years and there have been a lot of guys. Maybe not as much heart but similar accomplishments. If he was to get in I would have no problem with it though. He was great for boxing.

not a great fighter but did give us the greatest fight of all time

While I have never really liked Corrales...I liked what he was all about as far as his drive & heart went.

He wasn't my type of fighter...but he did indeed bring some exciting moments to boxing.

The main issue that I had with him was the fact that pretty much everything that I remembered him for was either a loss or a close one.

You have to respect a man that goes toe to toe with the best because it either brought out the best him or his fellow man.